Metal floor-mat.



No. 7|4,o02. Patented Nov. I8, 1902..

E. J. MANNING.

METAL FLOOR MAT. {Application filed May 20 1902.)

' (No Model.)

WITNESSES r INVENTOH- Y W V ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

EBEN J. MANNING, OF LAKE CITY, MINNESOTA.

METAL FLOOR-MAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 714,002, dated November 18, 1902. Application filed May 20,1902. Seria No- 108,230. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EBEN J. MANNING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lake City, in the county of Wabasha and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal Floor-Mats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to metal floor-mats; and it consists of a number of sections pivotally joined together, each section being composed of a number of metallic strips bent into suitable shape, with outwardly extending ends, and having a straight strip interposed between each bent strip. I

The invention further consists of the general arrangement and combination of the several parts, as will hereinafter be described and stated in the claims.

The principal object of the invention is to produce a strong and durable mat of neat and attractive appearance and which can be cheaply constructed.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent upon a further and more detailed description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved mat; Fig. 2, a perspective view of one of the bent pieces forming the rows constituting the sections; Fig. 3, a plan view of one of the connecting-links, and Fig. 4 a perspective view of one of the border-sections.

Referring to the several views, the letter a indicates a series of metallic bent strips, approximately U or V shape, having their outwardly-bent ends a provided with apertures a and their central portions with apertures a In forming the mat the bent strips a are arranged consecutively in a number of parallel rows sufficient to form a mat of the required size, each row forming a section and all of the sections being pivotally connected together. A straight connecting-strip b is placed between each bent piece to keep the bent strip in its normal shape, and the outwardly-bent ends a of one of the bent strips and the ends of the strip are pivoted together by rivets c, the center of each bent strip being riveted to the center of the straight connecting-strip by a rivet (1. As thus formed, the mat is composed of a number of sections, three being shown in the present instance, each section consisting of a series of bent strips and interposed straight connectingstrips.

After the desired number of sections have been pivotally joined together a straight strip 6 is riveted to the center of the lower or outer bent strip of each section by rivets j, said rivets passing through the apertures in the center of the strip. The end of each strip 6 overlaps the end of the adjacent strip, and rivets g are employed to pivotally connect them together. The pivotal point of connection of these strips is directly in line with the pivotal connection of the ends of the bent strips, so that the mat may be made to conform to uneven surfaces and to be transversely folded when desired.

The respective ends of the mat are provided with a suitable border composed of a series of angular sections h, which sections have their in-bent ends pivotally connected to the outwardly-bent ends of the bent strips and to the connection-strips by rivets h. Various changes in the forms of the bent strips may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing the principle thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. Amat composed of sections, each section comprisingarow of laterally-bent andstraight strips alternately arranged, said strips having their respective ends pivotally joined to the strips of the next row and intermediately connected to the strips in the same row.

2. A mat composed of sections, each section comprising a row of laterally-bentand straight strips riveted together at their central portions, their respective ends being pivotally joined to the strips of the next row and inconnected to the strips in the same row, and

termediately connected to the strips in the suitable end borders. 10 same row. r In testimony whereof I affix my signature 3. Amatcomposed of sections, each section in the presence of two witnesses. 5 comprisingarowoflaterally-bentandstraight EBEN J MANNING.

strips alternately arranged, the respective Witnesses: ends of said strips being pivotally joined to C. L. DEMPSTER,

the strips of the next row and intermediately W. A. HUBBARD. 

